NCT06875596

The Effectiveness of an Exercise Program on Scapulohumeral Rhythm, Range of Motion, and Stability in Young Female Handball Players

The Effectiveness of an Exercise Program on Scapulohumeral Rhythm, Range of Motion, and Shoulder Girdle Stability in Young Female Handball Players

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Medical University of Gdansk · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 16 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a shoulder girdle exercise program in improving stability, range of motion, and motor control in female handball players.

Detailed description

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a structured shoulder girdle exercise programme on stability, range of motion (ROM) and motor control in female handball players. The study will be conducted over a period of 8 weeks and will involve 60 participants aged 17-30 years recruited from professional handball clubs. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which will follow a modified version of the Watson programme, or the control group, which will continue with their standard training programme. Aims: - To compare the effects of the upper scapular rotation-oriented exercise intervention with a standardised upper extremity exercise programme. - Scapulohumeral rhythm assessment: To assess scapulohumeral rhythm at different angles of shoulder flexion (30°, 60°, 90° and 120°) in young female handball players, with a focus on identifying potential asymmetries between the dominant and non-dominant limbs. - Analysis of scapular kinematics: To measure scapular upward rotation, anterior/posterior tilt and medial/lateral translation at different degrees of shoulder flexion to identify movement patterns associated with scapular dyskinesis. - Functional stability analysis: To assess upper extremity functional stability using the Y-Balance Upper Quarter Test (YBT-UQ) and the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test pre- and post-exercise to identify potential correlations between stability improvements and changes in scapular rhythm and muscle activation. - Isometric strength measurement: To evaluate isometric strength in shoulder abduction, internal rotation and external rotation using the Lafayette HHD handheld dynamometer to assess the impact of the intervention on shoulder muscle performance.

Conditions

• Scapular Dyskinesis
• Handball Players
• Female Athlete

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Control: Exercise Program	The entire program begins with an assessment of scapulohumeral rhythm using a digital inclinometer, isometric strength testing, range of motion measurements, the Y-Balance Upper Quarter Test, and the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test. The exercise program for the experimental group lasts eight weeks and is divided into four two-week phases with four sets of exercises targeting the dominant upper extremity only. After the initial assessment, participants will undergo scapular positioning correction for the dominant extremity. They are then introduced to the first set of exercises for the first two weeks. The handball players will be given an exercise sheet explaining each exercise, which they will complete daily after completing their assigned ten minutes of exercise. They will also be given two resistance bands to provide resistance during the assigned exercises. One band is for upper scapular rotation, while the other is for resisting
OTHER	Experimental: Exercise Program	Participants in the active control group will begin the program in the same manner as the experimental group, beginning with scapulohumeral rhythm assessments using a digital inclinometer, isometric strength testing, range of motion measurements, the Y-Balance Upper Quarter Test, and the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test. They will also follow an eight-week exercise program divided into four two-week phases with four sets of exercises targeting the dominant upper extremity only. The key difference is that the control group will not focus on correcting scapular position for upward rotation during the exercises. Specifically, they will skip the upward rotation exercises at the beginning of each set and will not incorporate the acquired upward rotation control into other movement exercises. You will also be given a resistance band to provide resistance during the assigned exercises.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-08
• Primary completion: 2025-09-10
• Completion: 2028-02-10
• First posted: 2025-03-13
• Last updated: 2026-01-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Poland